Each year we salute running moms and dads on their special days each year.

This year we need some help!

We are looking for a few great running bloggers who love running dads as much as we do. If you believe dads who run deserve an extra pat on the back, a day of recognition, and a gift as a small way to remind them how special they are, then you just might be the help we need.

We will provide 5 copies of The Ultimate Runner for you to use as
giveaways, prizes, gifts or bribery for The Ultimate Running Dads that
you honor.

Here is what you need to do for the five copies. Leave a comment below and....

Tell us the creative way that you would involve your running, blogging friends in your salute to running dads.

We love stories and photos about runners so plans which involve sharing or telling the stories of running dads may get noticed. And if you can find a way to have them posted into the Lounge in the Inspirational Story category...well, that might sweeten your chances.

Twist this idea and find a quirky theme or fun way to salute running dads. Your imagination is your only limit. We just ask that it does somehow honor, salute, or celebrate the runners in your contest.

Contests must start by Tuesday, June 15 and announce winners by Fathers Day on June 20.

Lisa Dorfoman has been a sports nutritionist, an adjunct professor in the exercise and sport sciences and
is the director of sports nutrition and performance. She offers her advice in many running and fitness publications as well as her website at www.foodfitness.com. She provided expert advice to ordinary runners on the topic of nutrition for training, competition and recovery in the book, The Ultimate Runner.

We caught up with her to find out more about her running as a former pro triathlete and competitor in more than 30 marathons (PR 2:52:32).

Why did you start running?

I came out of the womb and didnt know what else to do...I have been running my whole life--49 years!In my adult years, my racing began at 24 ...my first race was a 10k...I was hooked!

Best running advice you ever received?

From the US 5k record holder a few decades back--told me to give myself a break every once in a while--drink, eat bad foods, whatever....I never thought about it, but doing whatever every once in a while is fun.

Running wisdom you wished you learned earlier in your running?Learn how to taper best--I think I could have qualified for the US Olympic Trials numerous times but never learned how to actively taper..

Favorite tip you pass along to runners?

Nutrition is 90% of good running...everyone should see a sports nutrition expert (RD,CSSD) at least once in their running careers to get the food part right--its more than getting enough carbs, everyone has their own personal formula that is required and works for training competition and recovery.

Most read/used running book?

Noakes--Lure of Running

Favorite running memory, run or race?

Grand Bahama 5000...the best in the world would join Marva Munroe, Race Director at her beautiful home for a weekend each year--Amby Burfoot, Greta Waitz, Jeff Galloway and the list goes on...It was like a reunion each year and the race was one of the fastest...The awards were waterford crystal...I still have my winner's crystals.

Also waiting for the 100th Boston Marathon to start, elites were bunkered down in a basement for 3 hours...met and bonded with the best runners around the world ad ran a 2:53 that day...

Your running dream? To be the fastest 50 year old at at least 1 distance (Feb 2011), & finally qualify for the Olympic Marathon Trials 2012

What keeps you running? I LOVVVVVEEEEE everything about it. the feeling, sweat, friends, high

How can runners contact you www.foodfitness.com, www.TheReunionDiet.com

Jeff Pickett, father of six and advocate for health, has a passion for running and fitness. He enjoys eating
well, playing hard and laughing often. He shared a story of his Chicago Marathon race in the book, The Ultimate Runner. It is a great example of the funny things you see while racing.

We asked him to share more about himself and running to learn more about the man behind the story.

Why did you start running?I started running about 10 years ago. I went one mile at a time and then in my first year got the marathon bug and just went for it. Let's say I finished and left plenty of margin to do better the next time.

Best running advice you ever received?The best running advice I ever received was to breathe. Sounds simple, but it incorporates so much. Listening to music is one thing, but going au naturale and focusing on your breathing is a different experience altogether.

Running wisdom you wished you learned earlier in your running?I wish I had discovered the world of Vibram Five Fingers or minimalist running sooner. As an overpronator, running heel to toe has caused me so many problems. Landing on the balls of my feet/midfoot in my VFF's has made running so much more enjoyable.

Favorite tip you pass along to runners?Don't wear cotton t-shirts on long runs. Especially guys. Those chafed nipples are painful!

Most read/used running book?Born to Run by Christopher McDougall - a must read for everyone, non-runners, too!

Favorite running memory, run or race?My favorite memory is the one I wrote on at the Chicago marathon - gotta read the book to hear more!

Your running dream?My running dream is to complete one more marathon with my daughters one day.

What keeps you running?My daughters are young - 3 and 5. I'm 42, so I run and stay active so that I can stay in shape and keep up with them. I want to savor life for as long as I can so that I can be around for them as long as possible.

How can runners contact you My contact info is varied: blog: http://www.primalchat.com; @primalchat, Jeff Pickett on Facebook, email is primalchat@gmail.com

Jason Karp is a nationally recognized speaker, writer and exercise physiologist who coaches recreational
runners to Olympic hopefuls through his company, RunCoachJason.com. His work has been included in many running journals and publications and we are thrilled to have his expert tips on training and distance running included in the book, The Ultimate Runner.

He shared some insights to his own running to help us better understand his perspective and insights.

Why did you start running?

I was attracted to the purity of the sport and saw that I was good at it as a kid.

Best running advice you ever received?

Train with intention.

Running wisdom you wished you learned earlier in your running?

Understanding the physiology of running. If I knew the science of running when I was younger, like I do now, I would have been a much better runner than I was.

When I was a kid, my dream was to compete in the Olympics. But as I got older, I realized that the extraordinary talent needed to achieve such lofty dreams is not part of the DNA of my legs. Now my running dream is to be the best runner I can be and coach someone who does have Olympic-level talent to make it to the Olympics.

Dani offered her story of overcoming the mental challenges of running with the story, "It's All In Your Head",
in the book, The Ultimate Runner. Dani (on far right) is an everyday writer who is also enjoys running in addition to her husband, good coffee, country music and free museums.

She offers these thoughts behind her running:

Why did you start running?Because I needed to fit into my wedding
dress. ;) No really. I've never been a very good runner, and have always
forced myself to do it because of outside reasons, but of course, once I
started it became its own therapy.

Best running advice you ever received?

"You can go
farther than you think you can," from my husband, who is a great runner
and often encourages me to overcome the obstacles I put in front of
myself.

Running wisdom you wished you learned earlier in your running?

Good
shoes really do make a difference. They're an investment, and off-brand
kicks will not make for happy feet.

Favorite tip you pass along to runners?

Just do it. Trite but
true.

Most read/used running book?

It's
actually not a running book at all, but Julia Child's memoir, "My Life
in France" has encouraged me to take on things I didn't think I could
conquer (like running) and to treat life like a giant, beautiful
adventure.

Favorite running memory, run or race?

Running my first
5K. It was something I had never imagined doing, but I ran it well and
actually enjoyed it! The sense of satisfaction after a race is
irreplaceable.

Your running dream?
To get to the point where running is not as hard for me as it is now.
It's not as tough as it used to be, but it's not as wonderful as I hope
it is someday!

What keeps you running?My husband's long
legs, kicking up dust in front of me. :) And, of course, how it feels to
run well. But I'd say keeping up with my man is definitely a priority.

This week I was flipping through blogs of some of my favorite running friends who have done reviews of The Ultimate Runner. One house I stopped at was A Viking Running who is also known as Ed H. Ed was nice enough to post his thoughts of the book but that wasn't what caught my attention.

It was actually a post after his review which was titled, "Stuff I need to Remember". I won't give away all his insights, but the gist was he wrote a public note to his private running self to remind him of running knowledge he shouldn't forget.

Things like, "I feel better when I run. I feel worse when I don't. It's so simple; why
I do I forget it so quickly?" (Why do us runners have such short memories...)

Or the reminder than when you run consistently your running gets better, which he sums up in the last line of his post as, "When I run consistently, my brain is freed from guilt-clutter, and I am
creative again [with my running]."

I have had similar thoughts (see similar thoughts in this 2008 post on the topic), but not chained together so eloquently over the last few weeks. Tom has a time honored saying that the key to running is consistency. Much easier said than done, but nonetheless very true. I know the more diligent I am with my running, the better my running which then in turn opens new doors in my running.

And the principle is so simple. Momentum is caused by forward motion. Energy is transferred forward.

That's why running is so addictive. Once you find your groove, the
momentum keeps carrying you forward-pushing you on to do more, run more,
become more of a runner.

This wonderful, natural phenomenon awaits the runner patient enough to
last through the "gathering momentum" period. It is a dark, tough time
where runs feel hard. Even if you have felt the bliss of being in the
groove before, when you are not, you wonder why you do it. Cause its
not comfortable. It feels like work. It is damn hard.

But if you persist, waiting on the other side is a reward for the body
and soul. Free floating, happy running that will keep you going.

So take a lesson from runners who keep forgetting. Keep running - don't lose your momentum.

Run for those who can't today.

(Postscript: Today is surgery day in the Van Gundy household. So my priority will rightly be with my husband as he gets through surgery, a week in the hospital and a long recovery. So, like many of you, I will be trying to figure out keep the momentum in my running while tending to the urgency of everyday life. One of my other favorite lines from Ed's post was, "I can talk to people, but in the back of my head, I wish I was talking
to them about running." Amen Ed - wish it was all about running...what a happy life it would be.)

Like many, I started running to help keep my weight in a proper range. Prior to that I had been primarily a strength athlete. I was teaching a weight training for women class at a local University and would go walking with a friend on campus afterwards, we walked for probably a year before we decided that running would get us done sooner!

Best running advice you ever received?

Trail running is a great form of training that enhances strength as well as stamina.

Favorite tip you pass along to runners?

Listen to your body. If you tune in to the whispers when something is not right, your body will never have to shout at you to get your attention. Basically if you catch injuries in their earliest stages and simply take a step back and give your body some recovery time, you can usually train fairly consistently and injury-free.

Favorite running memory, run or race?

Crater Lake Half marathon… the scenery is simply breathtaking! Other memories include all the trail running I did when I lived in Oregon – the trails in Forest Park are phenomenal.

Your running dream?

What keeps you running? I enjoy it and I’m committed to staying healthy! I think we all need to take responsibility for our health choices and this is one that I consciously make every day – run to stay healthy, run because it frees my mind, run because I can!

How can runners contact you

My website – http://www.runningstrong.com is probably the easiest way to find me. E-mail is janet@runningstrong.com

Over the last week, it has been great to see articles about some of the Extra Ordinary runners who contributed to the book, The Ultimate Runner. Our hope is other runners see their story and it keeps them moving, but even more than that - inspires them to share their stories. Here are a few of the quick links for your enjoyment!

While out on a run, when you meet another runner, do they feel your joy for running?

Or, do they run by with a subtle side glance and return the
"just-focus-and-endure" look of the "have to" runner?

Do me a favor and try a little experiment on your next run.

Take 30 seconds before your run and remind yourself why you run, why you
are lucky to run, and why you wouldn't want to be doing anything else.

And then, remember your most recent running accomplishment.

Now, wear those feelings on your face. For the whole run.

When you meet another runner - fast or slow, male or female, young or
old, sleek or raggy- look up, look over, smile and say hi. And behind
that "hi!", pass along the "can-you-believe-we-get-to-

come-out-here-and-do-this-today"
vibe. Include a sprinkle of "Wow. We are lucky." And a dash of, "All-those-nonrunners-have-no-idea-what-they-are-missing."

An interesting thing will occur. The other runner will pass the same
smile and vibe back - about 90% of the time versus the 25% of the time with the subtle grunt glance. As runners, our joy for running is always present, but sometimes we keep
it hidden. Bringing it to the surface helps our running and others.

Not only will you remind other runners of how much fun we are having, your run will feel better!

I have tried this experiment multiple times over the last few months. I would love to know how your results are the same or different. Give it a try and let me know your results!

About Runners' Lounge

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